Blog Series: Child and Youth Advocates

In continuing our Blog Series on human rights institutions, we are focusing this edition on Child and Youth Advocates. These are independent officers of provincial and territorial legislatures that focus on protecting and promoting the rights and dignity of children.

The Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates is mandated to give voice to young people. Their work is guided by, but not legislated to legally implement, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is a legal treaty intended to ensure all children are treated with dignity, and that their rights are respected and protected. The Committee on the Rights of the Child is a body of independent experts who monitor implementation of the CRC by States. Canada ratified the CRC in 1991.

The Government of Canada provides reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, with updates every five years on the status of children’s rights in Canada. The next reporting deadline is July 2018. To find the latest report on Canada, by the Committee, visit our International Human Rights and Canada Database.

Where there are Child and Youth Advocate offices at the provincial and territorial levels, these institutions are mandated by specific legislation. Broadly speaking, each provincial and territorial Child and Youth Advocate office is mandated to represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of children, within their jurisdictions. This includes advocating for social service provisions, and monitoring, reviewing and reporting publicly on these services. Several offices also conduct public education, and independent reviews and investigations into cases where such services are lacking and have resulted in the serious injury or death of a child.

Search Term Definitions

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Adoption Date: Date an instrument (i.e. treaty or convention) is adopted internationally. Adoption is a formal act which usually happens through a resolution of a representative organization, such as the United Nations General Assembly.

In Force?: Indicates if a treaty has entered into force.

In Force Date: Date a treaty becomes legally binding internationally for states adhering to the treaty.

Canada Signed? Indicates if Canada adheres through ratification (where Canada had previously signed), or through accession. If Canada adheres to the treaty, it is legally binding in Canada, meaning that Canada is responsible for fulfilling the standards set out in the treaty.

Signed Date: Date Canada became a party to a treaty, either through ratification or accession. As of this date, the treaty is legally binding in Canada.

Document | Treaty | Instrument Classification: Classification of document, treaty or instrument. Classifications do not imply any ranking of importance. NOTE: The OHCHR classification for UN treaty body documents is used for Treaties (more info).

Body: Acronyms of bodies which play a human-rights monitoring role (more info):